...to think that this expresson is dying out?

[WalkDontWalk]

On another thread someone used the expression 'taking the mick'. And I thought, 'I used to hear that all the time when I was a kid. But I rarely do now.'

So I started to think of others that my dad used but my kids don't.

'Having a kip' or 'I was akip'.

'Yikes' (My daughter says I'm the only non-cartoon that says 'yikes'.)

'Swinging the lead'

'Bunking off'. (Daughter: 'Never heard that. Sounds rude')

'Going Dutch' (Daughter. 'Nope. No idea. Is that rude too?')

'Haven't the foggiest.'

These were all in use in London fifty years ago. Maybe they were always regional.

@Crazycatladywithnocats "My nan used to say “I couldn’t fancy him if his arse was covered in diamonds”

"I wouldn't touch him/it etc. with a bargepole" is the expression I'm familiar with.

We wagged lessons or if someone was absent, they were wagging it.

Something I have never heard anyone other than my granny say: "nice weather for ducks" when it was raining all day.

This is pretty common in the north-west.

That's interesting as my granny was South African and although she did live for some time in the UK it was only ever in London! Her mother never set foot in the UK, but her father was Scottish, maybe that's where it came from!

I remember telling my young nephew on a train that he could nod off, and him looking at me like I'd insulted him, lol.

I’ve never heard ‘I was skip’ or ‘swinging the lead’.

Edit: just looked up ‘swinging the lead’.

I’m really surprised those expressions aren’t used anymore.
English isn’t my first language and I know more or less all of those, which means I’ve heard them used or I’ve read them not that long ago.

Having said that my young adults dcs have made similar comments about my use of expressions (assuming I am the one making a mistake and not speaking English properly 😂😂😂)

I say "I'm standing here like Piffy on a rock bun" to my kids ALL THE TIME, as my mother repeatedly said it to me, and her mother to her!

James Gordon Bennett was a wealthy newspaper proprietor and business man. He had a strange habit of pulling table cloths from their tables in restaurants and hotels. Presumably to the astonishment of other diners. His son and namesake started motor racing and rallying before it was a thing apparently. He seems like the origin of this saying?

My (South African) DH will tell you he is "as rough as a bear's arse" when he has a hangover.

Yes. “Bunk up” means to give a push up or have quick sex in the same way a “leg over” means both help over something and a quick shag.
No idea why . Maybe both are a bit naughty?

@theDudesmummy for some reason I have a feeling it's from a film? It makes me thing of some kind of cinematic or maybe literary reference and I don't know why!

I used that just the other day! I was telling someone that I have had a cold and felt rough as a badger’s arse haha

Spend a penny (= to go to the toilet, from when public loos cost an old penny to use)
You're going the right way ( said to a child who was being naughty; "for a thick ear" was implied)
Deuce as a euphemism for devil, e.g. "what the deuce is that?"
I remember being told to "frame", it meant stop messing about, co-operate, get on with it etc. It might be a Yorkshire thing.
"Cloth-ears" as an insult.

Stupid cow is one my kids say I’m the only person who says that 🤣

I really don't know! But when I asked ChatGPT about it it told me the saying with the same meaning which preceded it (in the 17th century) was "fine morning to catch herrings on Newmarket heath", which I certainly think should have a comeback!

Your "frame" was 'shape' in my childhood (nw, 1980s). Anyone being a bit wet was told to 'show some shape'.
Familiar with the cast majority of these but Scousers (or environs) - standing there like one of Lewis's (rather than like Piffy)

Also mention of Icky the fire bobby - in answer to who's there/that

My grandma used to refer to Soft Mick a lot. It was always a way of explaining how elaborate a situation was or much much of something someone had. “Well, I looked in her pantry and she had more bags of sugar than Soft Mick!” I’d love to know where it was derived from.

Cloth-ears was deaf.
Specky 4 eyes was a spectacles wearer.
Glad they're no longer used

Bunked of - playing truant

Bunked up - sharing a bed with someone (not necessarily sexual)

Bunk up - helping someone up over something.

Well the first bit is right about exaggerating the hand gesture away from the chin…..then it’s more of a “ Chinny Wreck-un” 😂…. I’m guessing you remember it too my lovely? Xx

One which I have only ever heard my (South African) DH saying is "they charge like a wounded buffalo" (to mean something is overpriced).

Sorry, meant ‘akip’ rather than ‘skip’ ofc!!

I say this alllll the time and my mate always says , Here’s Gordon again 🤣